---
title: Abbotsford secondary suite and carriage house rules
question: "Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?"
place: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/abbotsford
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Abbotsford
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/secondary-suite/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/secondary-suite.json"
---

# Abbotsford secondary suite and carriage house rules

**Question:** Can I add a secondary suite or a carriage house?

**Short answer:** Yes, in the City of Abbotsford. One secondary suite is allowed in every single detached dwelling, but a coach house or garden suite only where your zone lists it. Adding a suite needs a building permit and City registration: $260 at permit issue, plus a $270 yearly infrastructure fee.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Abbotsford, https://www.abbotsford.ca)  
**Cost:** $100 application fee (credited to the permit fee); $260 registration at issuance; $270 a year infrastructure fee on the property tax bill. Suite removal $75 ($260 for multiple suites).  
**How long:** Not stated by the City. Ask the Building Permits Division.  
**Where:**
- Online: Apply online, https://services.abbotsford.ca/portal
- Phone: Building Permits Division, 604-864-5525
- Email: Building Permits Division, building-info@abbotsford.ca
- Phone: Planning Services (zoning questions), 604-864-5510
- Online: Report an unregistered suite, https://www.abbotsford.ca/bylaw-service-request

## Key facts

- **Secondary suite allowed:** One secondary suite is allowed in every single detached dwelling. In the A1 to A6, RR, CR, SR, SRH, RMF and some N zones the suite must also meet that zone's own conditions. Suites must be registered with the City.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.8(a), (b)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140)
  - Official wording: "one Secondary Suite is permitted in all Single Detached Dwellings." … "Where permitted, a Secondary Suite in the A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, RR, CR, SR,"
  - Source: [Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page](https://www.abbotsford.ca/buildingpermits/secondary-suites)
  - Official wording: "Secondary suites are required to be registered with the City."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Coach house or garden suite allowed:** Coach house: RR, CR, SR and SRH (lot over 0.4 ha), SSMUH 1, 2, 2-g, 3 and 4, TH1, RS6-C and RCH zones. Garden suite: SSMUH 1, 2, 2-g, 3 and 4, TH1, TH2 and RS7. Only where the zone lists it. A zones list neither; N and CD zones not checked.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.2.12(d)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140)
  - Official wording: "Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing shall not include a Garden Suite or Coach House except"
  - Source: [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351, s. 351.1 (SSMUH 1)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351)
  - Official wording: ".6 Short-Term Rental Accommodation .7 Boarding .8 Coach House .9 Garden Suite .10 Home Occupation - Level 1" … ".7 Boarding .8 Coach House .9 Garden Suite .10 Home Occupation - Level 1 .11 Home Occupation - Level 2"
  - Source: [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400385, s. 385.1 (RS6-C)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400385)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Uses .4 Boarding .5 Coach House .6 Home Occupation - Level 1 .7 Short-Term Rental Accommodation (B/L 3691-2025)"
  - Source: [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400386, s. 386.1 (RS7)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400386)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Uses 4. Boarding 5. Garden Suite 6. Home Occupation - Level 1 7. Secondary Suite"
  - Source: [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400387, s. 387.1 (RCH)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400387)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Uses .3 Boarding .4 Coach House .5 Home Occupation - Level 1 .6 Short-Term Rental Accommodations (B/L 3670-2025)"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 310 Rural Residential Zone (RR), s. 310.1 (RR)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400310)
  - Official wording: ".8 Boarding .9 Coach House .10 Home Occupation - Level 3, on a Lot outside the Agricultural Land Reserve"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 335 Suburban Residential Hobby Farm Zone (SRH), s. 335.1 (SRH)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400335)
  - Official wording: ".5 Short-Term Rental Accommodation .6 Boarding .7 Coach House .8 Hobby Farm Agriculture .9 Home Occupation Level 3"
  - Source: [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400357, s. 357.1 (TH1)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400357)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Uses .6 Short-Term Rental Accommodation .7 Boarding .8 Coach House .9 Garden Suite"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Secondary suite: one per house, under 50% of its floor area (garage excluded), none with residential care, a boarding house, supported housing or home child care. Garden suite or coach house: one per lot. SSMUH and TH zones: 15% of lot area or 100 m², whichever is less (coach house: rear lane lots, no larger than the garage). RR, CR, SR: 90 m² or 40% of the house. RS7 and RCH: 55 m².
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.8(c)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140)
  - Official wording: "be limited to one such Use per principal Dwelling Unit" … "be limited to a maximum floor area that is less than 50% of the floor area of the principal Dwelling Unit in which it is located, excluding the floor area of an attached garage" … "not be operated where there is a Residential Care, Boarding House,"
  - Source: [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400386, s. 386.7.2](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400386)
  - Official wording: "be limited to a maximum floor area of 55 m2 and not be located within a" … "be limited to one such Use per Lot;"
  - Source: [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400387, s. 387.7.1](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400387)
  - Official wording: "be limited to a maximum floor area not greater than the total floor area"
  - Source: [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351, s. 351.1 .11, .13 (SSMUH 1)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351)
  - Official wording: "be limited to a total maximum floor area not greater than 15% of the Lot Area, or 100 m2, whichever is less;" … "be limited to Lots with rear lane access;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Parking:** 1 off-street space for the suite (also 1 for a coach house or garden suite), on top of the 2 spaces required for a single detached dwelling.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 150 Parking, s. 150.3, Table 1](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400150)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suite 1 space per Dwelling Unit" … "Single Detached Dwelling 2 spaces per Dwelling Unit" … "Coach House 1 space for each Dwelling Unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permits:** A building permit is needed to add or remove a suite, and the suite must be registered. Fees: $100 application (credited), $260 registration at issuance, $270 a year infrastructure fee on the property tax bill. A development permit comes first if the OCP requires one.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2883-2018), s. 25, s. 28(h)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2018b2883)
  - Official wording: "Construction or removal of an additional Suite, including but not limited to a Secondary Suite or Coach House;" … "no Building Permit will be issued for Construction until a Development Permit required under the City's Official Community Plan Bylaw, 2016"
  - Source: [Secondary Suites, Secondary Suites page](https://www.abbotsford.ca/buildingpermits/secondary-suites)
  - Official wording: "A $100 non-refundable application fee applies at time of submission of a building permit application." … "A $270 infrastructure fee will be added to property taxes on an annual basis."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006 (Consolidated), Schedule G Building, Schedule G, s. 9(c), 10(c)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1532)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw No. 1532-2006 Page 25 (c) Processing Fee for Additional Suite (i) Registration (new) .........................................................................$260.00 (ii) Accessory Suite removal .................................................................$75.00 (iii) Multiple Suite Removal ..................................................................$260.00" … "including but not limited to a Secondary Suite or Coach House. (c) Infrastructure fee ............................................................................ $270.00/year 11. PERFORMANCE SECURITY"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw, 2014 (Bylaw No. 2400-2014), s. 140.3.8 and s. 150; Building Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2883-2018); Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006 (No. 1532-2006), Schedule G.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.8](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140)
  - Official wording: "Secondary Suites (B/L 3246-2022, 3299-2022, 3560-2024, 3670-2025, 3691-2025)"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2883-2018), title](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2018b2883)
  - Official wording: "City of Abbotsford - Building Bylaw, 2018- - - Search Results | Clear Search | Previous (in doc) | Next (in doc) | Prev Doc | Next Doc | License Bylaw No. 2883-2018 ## Building Bylaw, 2018 Consolidated and printed by authority of the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Zoning Bylaw allows one secondary suite (a dwelling unit inside a house) in every single detached dwelling. In the A1 to A6, RR, CR, SR, SRH, RMF and some N zones the suite must also meet that zone's own conditions. A coach house (on the second storey of an accessory building) or a garden suite (in a single-storey one) is allowed only where your zone lists it:

- **Coach house:** RR, CR, SR and SRH (lot over 0.4 ha), SSMUH 1, 2, 2-g, 3 and 4, TH1, RS6-C and RCH zones.
- **Garden suite:** SSMUH 1, 2, 2-g, 3 and 4, TH1, TH2 and RS7.

A zones list neither. Zone sections for N and CD zones were not checked.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone's rules (Planning Services, 604-864-5510, or the Property Information Search).
2. Complete the Secondary Suite submission and drawing checklists.
3. Apply online and pay the $100 application fee. A development permit comes first if the Official Community Plan requires one.
4. At permit issue, pay the $260 registration fee. Book inspections online.
5. The $270 yearly infrastructure fee then appears on your property tax bill.

## Good to know

- Size: a secondary suite must be under 50% of the house's floor area (garage excluded). Garden suite or coach house: one per lot; in SSMUH and TH zones up to 15% of lot area or 100 m², whichever is less (a coach house is on rear lane lots and no larger than the garage); RR, CR and SR zones 90 m² or 40% of the house; RS7 and RCH zones 55 m².
- No suite where the house has residential care, a boarding house, supported housing or home child care.
- Parking: 1 off-street space for the suite (also 1 for a coach house or garden suite), on top of the 2 required for the house.
- The City says an unregistered suite can be fined $500 a day under the Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw. Suites not removed by May 1 stay on that year's tax bill.
- Zoning also permits 3 to 4 units on many urban lots under section 140.2.12; ask Planning.

## Official forms and pages

- [Secondary Suites, City of Abbotsford](https://www.abbotsford.ca/buildingpermits/secondary-suites)
- [Submission Checklist, Secondary Suite (PDF)](https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/2025%20Submission%20Checklist%20-%20Residential%20-%20Secondary%20Suite%20Fillable.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014 (browse)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/content/coa/coabylaws/z/zoning/?xsl=/templates/browse.xsl)

## Related questions

- [Abbotsford building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/building-permit.md)
- [Abbotsford building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Abbotsford zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Abbotsford permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Secondary suite and carriage house rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/secondary-suite.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/secondary-suite.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/secondary-suite.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/secondary-suite.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/secondary-suite.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/secondary-suite.md)
- [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/secondary-suite.md)

## Sources

- [Secondary Suites, City of Abbotsford](https://www.abbotsford.ca/buildingpermits/secondary-suites) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006 (Consolidated), Schedule G Building](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1532) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 120 Definitions](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400120) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 150 Parking](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400150) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2883-2018), City of Abbotsford](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2018b2883) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Land Use Information Letters, City of Abbotsford](https://www.abbotsford.ca/business-development/development-planning/land-use-information-letters) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400385](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400385) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400386](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400386) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400387](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400387) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 310 Rural Residential Zone (RR)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400310) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 335 Suburban Residential Hobby Farm Zone (SRH)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400335) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400357](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400357) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Abbotsford. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/secondary-suite/_